Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-09
LABOR I'D CARE NrEprp.


LABOR AND CARE NEEDED.
The difficulty attending a wise
and fair revision Of our tauil laws
is not underestimate. II will re.
quire on the part Of the Congress
great labor and care, and especial.
ly broad and national contemplG-
ton OF the subject, and n patriotic
disregard Of such local and selfish
claims as are unreasonable AMI
reckless Of the Welfare of the en-.
tire country.
Under our present laws more
than four thousand articles are sub
iect to duty. Many Of these do not
in any way compete with orr own
manufactures. and many are hardly
worth attention as subjects OF rev.
enue. A considerable reduction
can be made in the aggregate. by
adding them to the free list. The
taxation ofluxuries presents no tea-
lures Of hardship; but the neces.
saries Of life used consumed by all
the people, the duty upon which
adds to the cost of living in every
home, should be greatly cheap
ened.
The radical reduction Of the du.
ties imposed upon raw materials
used in manufactures, or its free
importation, is of course an import
ant factor in any effort TO reduce
the price Of these necessarieS il
would not only relieve them from
the increased cost caused by the
tariff on such material, but The
manufactured product being thus
cheapened, that part Of the tariff
now laid upon such product, as q
compensation TO our manufacturers
for the present price of raw mate
rial, could be accordingly modified.
Such reduction, or free importation.
would serve beside to largely re
duce the revenue. lt is not appar.
ant how sucI a change can have
any Injurious effect upon our man
ufacturers. On the contrary. it
would appear to give them p better
chance II foreign markets with The
manufacturers Of other countries,
who cheaper their wares by tree
material. Thus our people might
have the opportunity Of extending
thrir sales beyond the limits Of
home cOnsumptiOn.-saving them
from the depression. interruption
in business, and loss caused by a
glutted domestic market, and al.
fOrding their employees more Ger.
tam and steady labor, with its re-
sultlng quiet and contentment.
The question thus imparatiyely
presented for solution should BE-
approached in a spirit higher then
partisanShip and considered in the
light of that regard for patriotic
duty which should characterize the
action of those entrusted with the
veal of confiding people. But
the obligation 20 declared party
policy and principle is not wanting
to urge prompt and effective nc.
ton. Both OF the great political
parties now represented in the
government have, by repeated and
authoritative declarations condemn
ed the condition of our laws which
permit the collection from the peo-
pie of unnecessary revenue, and
have, in the most solemn manner,
promised its correction; and neither
as citizens or partizans are orr
countrymen in a mood to cOndOne
the celebrate violation Of these
pledges.
BANDYING EPITHETs.
Our progress toward wise con-
cluslOn Will not be improved by
dwelling upon the theories Of pro-
lection and tree trade. This sayOrs
too much of bandying epithets. 1t
is a condition which cOntrOnts US
not a theory. Relief from this con
dition may involve a slight reduc-
ton of the advantages which we
award our home productions, but
the entire withdrawal of such ad.
vantages should not be contemplate
ed. The question Of tree trade is
absolutely irrelevant; and the per
sistent claim made in certain quar-
lers, that all efforts to relieve the
people from unjust and unneces-
sary taxation are schemes Of 30.
called free traders. is mischiey0ns
and far removed from any consider
alton for the public good.
The simple and plain duty which
we owe the people is to reduce tax
alton to the necessary expenses Of
an economical operation Of the /
government. and to restore 20 the /.
business of the country the money /
which we hold in the treasury /
the perversion of govern
nent powers. These things can
and should be done with safety 10
Ill our industries. without danger
o the opportunity for renumera.
i've labor which our wOrkingmen
reed, and with benefit to them and
III our people, by cheapening their
means of subsistence aud increas-
ne the measure of their comforts.
The Constitution provides that
he President "shall, from time to
ime, give to the Congress infOrma-
ion of the state of the UniOn.' IL
las been the custom of the execu.
i've, in compliance with this pro.
ision, to annually exhibi. to the
congress, at the opening Of its
essiOn, the general condition of
he country, and to detail, with
ONE particularly, the operations
{ the different executive depart
rents. 1t would be especially
greeable to follow this course at
he present time, and to call atten-
on to the valuable accomplish
rents of these departments during ,
10 last fiscal year. But | am 80
luch impressed with the para.
iount importance of the subject to
hich this communication has thus {
r been devoted, that ! shall fOregO
le addition of any other topic, 4
nd only urge upon your immediate "
the estate of the
MON" as shown in the present